Real Men Cook Charity Does Responsible Coffee Too

Guest Author - Gayle E. Santana

For almost two decades, Real Men Cook (RMC) has been a significant charitable fund-raising event that takes place on Father’s Day across the country. Organized by Yvette and Kofi Moyo “as a national crusade to positively change the way the world views men in relationship to their family and community. The crusade includes events, which take place all on the same day, Father’s Day; in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.,” according to information on the RMC website.

Thousands of volunteer chefs come out and cook to raise money for local charities. Participation over the years includes many famous politicians like Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama as well as a multitude of notable entertainers, authors, educators and the like alongside the unsung heroes; the everyday men in urban communities across the country dedicated to their families and communities, while the media much too often portrays otherwise.

Today, RMC is more than an event. It’s a multi-faceted platform which includes “informational pavilions, including the highly successful Real Men Charities Health & Wellness Pavilions featuring screenings, healthy foods, nutritional and fitness workshops. The events also feature Kids Pavilions and the Real Men Read Pavilion, promoting literacy product demonstrations, raffles and other assorted fun activities for the entire family."

RMC has also escalated into a world-wide phenomena with the Bahamas signing on as a destination sponsor for the event, a yearly staple on television news and entertainment programs, including Emerill Live, and has spawned products like the Real Men Cook Sweet Potato Pound Cake Mix, Real Men Cook: Rites, Rituals, and Recipes for Living Cookbook and of course my favorite, the Real Men Cook 100% Arabica Coffee.

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Fritz-Earle McLymont (r.) explains the benefits of Real Men Cook Coffee® during a demonstration at Macy’s Herald Square, New York City, as coffee master Joseph Steinberg pours.

I caught up with Fritz-Earle Mc Lymont, promoter of the Real Men Cook Coffee brand, to ask a few questions about the coffee side of RMC.

1. How did coffee become one of the Real Men Cook products?

Mr. Mc Lymont: “Real Men Cook has been marketing a Sweet Potato Pound Cake for a few years, and took the opportunity in 2007 to add the coffee as a complement in expanding the line of food products. The beans are imported from Uganda and roasted in Little Rock, Arkansas.”

2. I notice on the site it says that "We support programs and initiatives that foster better and more sustainable communities in the coffee growing regions of East Africa, while protecting and preserving the environment that produces these excellent beans." Can you tell me a little more about that?

Mr. Mc Lymont: “Unlike the Free Trade operatives, our approach is to work directly with the growers in Uganda, encouraging and supporting organic cultivating, promoting increased yields per acre including apiculture and intercropping, and over the long term initiate health and social programs. I will be visiting Uganda in August."

3. I notice that Real Men Cook also has a great cookbook out called what else but REAL MEN COOK . In the description it says, “the men share more than one hundred mouthwatering, finger-lickin'-good recipes -- the kind of recipes that make the Father's Day event a must-attend for all who appreciate a good plate of food. Equally important, they open their hearts, offering memories of growing up, tales of Real Men Cook events, and wisdom for the next generation.” My mouth is watering already, but you know I have to ask, are there any recipes in it using coffee?

Mr. Mc Lymont: “My personal favorites: Coffee with a little Cayenne Pepper and Honey, especially during winter and Coffee with Cinnamon and Honey.”

Instead of getting your favorite ‘real man’ a tie this year, try taking him to a Real Men Cook event near you or give him the Real Men Cook cookbook, which would be much more appreciated than that tie you were thinking of getting for him. Even if he never goes near the stove, the Real Men Cook Sweet Potato Pound Cake Mix would do quite nicely. I couldn’t believe or resist the bargain gift set. For just $50, my ‘real man’ will be getting the Real Men Cook Apron, Real Men Cook Cap, Real Men Cook T-Shirt, Real Men Cook Cake Mix, the Real Men Cook Coffee, and the Real Men Cook Cookbook. I can't wait to see his face or see him in the kitchen!

Happy Father’s Day to all of the men out there who remake the commitment every day to be a part of the recipe for a successful family.

To get more information about purchasing products, volunteering or attending the Real Men Cook events taking place across the country this coming Father’s Day, June 15th, please visit their website, www.realmencook.com.